Fiji 6-PENCE (KM19)¶
-
Reverse GREEN SEA TURTLE
-
Obverse Queen Elizabeth II
- Composition
- Copper-Nickel
- Country
- Fiji
- Approx. Size
- 19mm
- Area
- Oceania/Australia
- Animal Class
- Reptiles
- Species
- Green Sea Turtle
- KM#
- 19
At 1-1.5m long and up to 200kg, the Green Sea Turtle is the largest hard-shelled turtle. Unfortunately, world populations are either threatened or endangered. According to Frank Lopez's "Turtles and Tortoises on Coins and Papermoney" site, this coin is the first turtle coin issued in modern times. It was first issued in silver in 1934 and the composition was changed to copper-nickel in 1953. Unfortunately this wonderfully engraved turtle didn't survive the change to decimal coinage after 1969.
Fiji¶
- Area
- Oceania/Australia
Fiji is an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean made up of approximately 322 islands and hundreds of islets. The population lives on 106 of the islands, but the vast majority live on two major islands (Viti Levu and Vanua Levu). The islands were occupied long before the Europeans arrived, but how they arrived and from where remains an important question. The islands became a British colony in 1874, and independence was granted in 1970. Since that time, Fiji has waded through some major political problems including several coups including one as recently as 2000 which resulted in the country being kicked out of the Commonwealth of Nations. Fiji's economy is well developed, yet many of the people still get by day to day. Sugar is the major source of economic income. Fishing, foresty, mining and tourism also play important roles. Fiji ranks 151st for size and 153rd for population (less than one million), yet has a well-developed and capable armed forces that has contributed to United Nations peacekeeping efforts around the world.
